UNESCO Training Project Journal

Rasika drawing parts of the shipwreck. (Photo courtesy of the Central Cultural Fund).

End of the Earl

Today was the final day for Team 3 at the Earl of Shaftsbury. We had to complete some measurements at the stern portion of the wreck before removing all the lines, markings, labels and ropes we had been using to survey the site. We decided to work in two groups. Rasika , Janaka and I completed the remaining measurements, while Sanjeeva, who is in Team 2 but was working with us for the day, and Elahena were to examine a specific area amidships for documentation and subsequent study. Even though, there was a strong current, visibility was surprisingly good. We completed our tasks in time and also recorded a short video of the wreck.

A media team from Sri Lanka Rupawahini Corporation had came down from Colombo to cover our diving activities for the field school. The media crew accompanied us on the boat to the shipwreck sites. With their intention to create public awareness about the protection of underwater cultural heritage and the protection of historic shipwrecks they documented our activities onboard and underwater. They interviewed the trainees, trainers and members of the public in order to obtain different views on the subject.

Site map of the Earl of Shaftsbury wreck. Click on the image to zoom in for a closer look. IE users must allow blocked content in order to see zoomed image. (Photo courtesy of the Central Cultural Fund).